Doctors discover new ways to treat stroke and heart attacks

Patients who are suffering from carotid artery ailment have a present that will make them smile afresh. A procedure in use by doctors in Arizona hospitals has the ability to reduce the dangers of heart attack or stroke to them.

The procedure, common among the doctors as Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), involves the use of small incisions on the patient’s neck and a thin wire aimed at treating any blockages. The procedure quickens the recovery of the patients.

The process requires the doctors to apply a lot of expertise to ensure that the arch of the aorta is avoided at whatever costs. Though the process is in a twisting or dangerous category, the doctors are very prepared to undertake it. Such information has been reported by top vascular surgeons based at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital.

The new way of treatment eases work for most doctors. The conventional methods to treat patients with blockages were dangerous. When trying to treat the patients, the doctors would go through the groin and cross the artery with the use of wires.

The TCAR Process

For the process to go on seamlessly, doctors make an incision that is about 1 to 2 cm in the collarbone to make a means of accessing the carotid artery. The carotid artery is important in transporting blood to the major parts of the neck, the face and the brain. The next step is to place a sheath in the carotid artery and connect to an advanced system that reverses blood flow away from brain cells. Such a move has an objective of protecting the patient’s brain system against plaque fragments that loosens up during the process.

In reverse flow mode, blood goes through stenting and blood angioplasty. These are external body filters that remove the plaques. Stenting is done to stabilize the plaque within the carotid artery. The blood is then returned to the body through a vein located in the thigh. The next step is to turn off the reversal and make the blood to flow in its normal direction.

The procedure is an open surgery with a high-risk and doctors are extra careful when carrying it out. Its execution takes an average of 7 minutes. Challenges to the process include the presence of tracheotomy, the blockage being too high, a patient having cancer of the neck, or a neck with lots of scar tissue.

If the numbers of successful treatment continue to rise, then the procedural surgery will be common among the low-risk patients.

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